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1,000s of titushkas and Russians plan provocations in Kyiv

Thousands of people from the east of Ukraine and Russia are preparing provocations in Kyiv on May 9, Volodymyr Pak, leader of the 14th Kolomya sotnia, announced on Thursday.

“The Central Board of Hundreds of Maidan is ready for tomorrow’s possible provocations. We will intensify patrols and coordinate actions with self-defense of the Ukrainian House,” he said. According to Pak, their actions are coordinated with the Ministry of Interior, as there is evidence that “many groups around Kyiv are only waiting to organize riots here on Maidan.”

When asked about possible provocations, Pak said that veterans’ symbols of the USSR could be torn off. “There is information that many Russian citizens, young sporty guys are here in Maidan. Perhaps, there will also be some pro-Russian activists,“ he said.

According to Pak, several provocateurs were detained and questioned last night; they reported on the possibility of provocations. “There is an information that several thousand people near Kyiv have already prepared for tomorrow’s events,” said Pak. He urged the people of Kyiv and veterans to understand the possible hazards and the “picture, prepared by the Russian media.”

“To help us, it is advisable not to go to this celebration, as large crowds enormously complicate our work,” said Pak. He stressed that the possible provocations could involve a large number of “titushkas” from the eastern borders and citizens of Russia. In turn, the head of the Anti-Corruption Committee of Maidan, Oleksiy Isayev, noted that there could be provocations on May 9 to create a “picture” for the television. He stressed the need to honor the veterans and do anything to prevent them from being offended.

“We suggested uniting all security forces of Maidan to take custody of the perimeter in all the usual places where the veterans gather,” said Isayev. He said the veterans would gather, particularly at Spivoche Pole, Park Slava and Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti). According to Isayev, Avtodozor joined the initiative to help veterans to get to the meeting.

He added that on Friday morning an announcement would be made regarding a common system of identification of representatives of Maidan in order to prevent provocateurs from mixing in. According to Isayev, on May 9, from 2,000-2,500 law enforcement officers would maintain order. The head of the Kyiv branch of the Afghan veterans group “Nobody but us”, Yuri Syiniavchuk, said that Afghan vets are ready to protect WWII veterans. “We will have mobile patrols and we will cooperate with the police and with Maidan,” he said.